"What's Wrong With Extinction?" with Claire Colebrook

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Dec 22, 2024

In this captivating discussion, Claire Colebrook, a Professor of English and Theory at the University of Sydney, delves into the philosophical nuances of extinction. She challenges anthropocentric views, urging listeners to reconsider extinction beyond mere human survival. The conversation weaves through existential themes, exploring the implications of identity in Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' and the interconnectedness of life and death. Colebrook also addresses the evolving boundaries of literature, questioning how new forms can reshape our understanding of existence.

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INSIGHT

What's Wrong with Extinction?

Extinction is inevitable and natural.
The problem with extinction depends on what is being extinguished.

INSIGHT

Humans and Extinction

Humans are products of extinction, emerging after prior mass extinctions.
Extinction and climate change are integral to human existence.

INSIGHT

The Emergence of 'Life'

The concept of life, as distinct from mere existence, emerged after the 18th century.
This shift coincided with the emergence of the human as a process, not just a form.

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The order of things

Michel Foucault

In 'The Order of Things,' Michel Foucault examines the historical development of the human sciences, including psychology, sociology, anthropology, and linguistics. He introduces the concept of 'episteme,' which refers to the underlying structure of thought that defines what is considered true and acceptable in a given historical period. Foucault analyzes how these epistemes change over time, particularly from the Classical Age to Modernity, and how they influence the fields of language, biology, and economics. The book is known for its complex and detailed analysis, including a forensic examination of Diego Velázquez's painting 'Las Meninas' to illustrate the structural parallels in perception and representation[3][4][5].

Tom Jones

Henry Fielding

Hegel's Phenomenology

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel

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The Iliad

Homer

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The Odyssey

Homer

The Odyssey, attributed to Homer, is an ancient Greek epic poem that tells the story of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, and his ten-year journey home after the Trojan War. The poem explores Odysseus's encounters with various mythical creatures, divine interventions, and natural challenges. Upon his return to Ithaca, he must confront the suitors who have been vying for his wife Penelope's hand in marriage. With the help of his son Telemachus and the goddess Athena, Odysseus devises a plan to defeat the suitors and reclaim his throne. The poem is a reflection on human nature, loyalty, and the consequences of one's actions, and it remains a crucial component of ancient Greek literature and Western cultural heritage.

Frankenstein

Mary Shelley

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Y the Last Man

Pia Guerra

Brian K. Vaughan

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Of grammatology

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Paradise Lost

John Milton

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Nausea

Jean-Paul Sartre

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Ulysses

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